Electric connector equipment



Oct. 17, 1939. O R csbN 2,176,456

ELECTRIC CONNECTOR EQUIPMENT Filed March 29, 1938 INVENTOR. 't/flara 0. (fr/6J0 BY 0 p 57 69. 4 W &m a dz ATTORNEY,

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE 2 Claims.

In wiring arrangements such as for string lighting, it has been usual to suspend lamp sockets from a conductor by short branch wires running down into the top end of the lamp socket. The construction has not always been safely watertight, and has also presented many other disadvantages, including excessive tendencies to wire breakage and interruption of the circuit at points of connection to the conductor etc. In an effort toward a safer construction, it has been proposed to make an all-molded construction, molding integrally onto the conductor a spaced series of socket members, the conductor having been preliminarily bared at the respective points such that accessory branch leads could be soldered to the conductor wires and to the socket contacts,

course of manufacture is not discovered until the product is completed, and this occasions rejects on inspection before being shipped, or if there is no inspection the installer finds dead sockets in his equipment at the time of putting up the installation.

In accordance with the present invention however, such difficulties may be avoided, and an installer may fit his connections in any given case to whatever spacing distances may be desired, and with a finished result which is weathertight and secure.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative however, of but a few of the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Figs. 1 and 2 are side elevational views of illustrative embodiments of the invention; Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view; and Fig. 4 is a side view showing how the connecting-up is accomplished.

To a conductor C, holder members 2, Fig. l, are supplied in such spacing as desired, the holder members having openings 3 through their side walls, permitting the conductor to be threaded through, and the engagement against the conductor is sufliciently tight by frictional contact, whether the engaging surface be integral with the holder body 2 as preferable, or as insert bushings for the purpose. The conductor thus has a slip-fit through the holder member. Desirably, such member 2 is made of more or less resilient composition, such as soft rubber or semi-soft at least for those portions contacting with what enters the openings. may have an eye 5 for auxiliary suspension to a carrier-cable or other point of support. Normally seated within the holder are the metal contacts, for instance a shell 8 capable of receiving a lamp bulb or plug, etc., such shell being provided with insulation 9 supporting the contacts for the circuit, and conveniently for instance carrying contact screws I I], one for the shell and the other leading to a central contact therein, and the respective contact screws being on opposite sides as is standard and well understood. Wiring in may be in parallel or in series; the contacts however are connectible to the wires of the conductor in particularly advantageous manner without requirement of interruption of continuity. Thus, the insulation may be opened up at the appropriate point and the wires be bared and these may be attached to the respective contact points at each side, while running continuously therepast, in manner desired, as by direct soldering, or preferably by simply laying each wire under its screw H1 and tightening down. Projection of a sufficient loop of the conductor to permit of this is readily had, as illustrated in Fig. 4, by pushing the conductor suificiently from the holder, and after the connection is made the shell may be drawn back into position within the holder. The conductor may be of two-wire or single wire type, as desired, the former generally being the more useful, although in some situations the application of single wire conductors even for parallel wiring, is feasible, utilizing the advantages of the invention.

By supplying one or more holder members 2 on a conductorC', Fig. 2, such as for any desired appliance or tool, for example a portable trouble lamp L, additional outlets from the cord may be available for further lamps, soldering irons, or other uses, as desired, and in parallel or in series. Thus, with the contacts connected in series and a fuse plug inserted in the holder 2 the appliance Where desired, the holder may be individually fused in convenient uniform arrangement.

In Whatever form of installation, a construction may thus particularly advantageously be assembled by the installer, in the field, to accord with any conditions and problems of placement and location which may be presented, it being a relatively simple matter to push the conducltor through the openings of the holder members and force through enough of a loop to permit the baring of the wires for connection to the contacts. And'after the conductor is drawn tight to seat the contacts in final position within the holder, the device is tight, weather-proof and durable.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. In equipment of the character described, a holder member, a two wire conductor anda metal socket shell, said holder member being formed of resilient rubber and having one end imperforate and transverse lateral openings adjacent said end, said holder member having a cavity of uniform diameter to slidably receive said socket shell, said socket shell having binding screws and the wires of said conductor being continued under and fastened to said binding screws, said conductor passing through one of said openings and out of the other opening and supporting said socket shell, said holder member having weather tight engagements with said conductor.

2. In equipment of the character described, a holder member, a two wire conductor and a metal socket shell, said holder member being formed of resilient rubber and having one end imperforate and transverse lateral openings adjacent said end, said holder member having a cavity of uniform diameter to slidably receive said socket shell, said socket shell having binding screws and the wires of said conductor being continued under and clamped by said binding screws, said conductor passing through one of said openings and out of the other opening and supporting said socket shell, said holder member having weather tight engagements with said conductor, said holder member having integral alined exterior projections through which said openings extend,

EDWARD O. ERICSON. 

